Regis darne abtd pierre darwe



R. AND P. DARNE. AUTOMATIC HREARM 0R MACHINE GUN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22. I9I1.

APatented Nov. 25, 1919.

No z r RGIS DARNE AN D PIERRE DARNE, OF ST.ETIENNE, FRANCE.

AUTOMATIC FIREARM OR MACHINE-GUN.

Application filed October 22, 1917.

To all lwhom t may concern Bc it known that we, RGIS DARNE and Puliamo D x'iznn, n'lanufacturers, both citizens of the Republic of France, and residents of 73 Cours Fauriel, St-Etienne, (Department of Loire,) France, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Automatic Firearms or Machine-Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic or machine guns, of the kind which are operated by the explosion gases.

Devices have already been proposed for bringing about the closing and opening of the brceches of lire-arms by a breech block which slides and oscillates about its front part in a recess arranged in the breech casing, under the action of parts carried by the firing pin support, when the latter effects its forward and rearward movements under the thrust of the gases. However, these devices comprise parts which are delicate and complicated. Our present construction for controlling the breech block by the firing pin support comprises only simple and solid parts. This is a great advantage in machine guns in which any breakage of the parts must be avoided, as an accident can easily occur owing to the great speed of firing and to the rapidity of movement of the breech block and the firing pin support.

This invention comprises inclined planes, for controlling the oscillation movements of the block, these planes being arranged near the top and at the rear part of the firing pin support and acting on corresponding inclined planes arranged opposite the first planes on the lower side of the breech block.

The invention further comprises a construction in which the drawing out and elevation of the cartridges from the cartridge belt is effected by three elevators pivotally mounted on the firing pin support, the two outer elevators forming a spring and gripping between them the cartridge close to its head, while the third elevator arranged between the first two elevators, supports and raises the front part of the cartridge by a bifurcated end.

The invention is illustrated by way of eX- ample in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figures l and la constitute a broken longitudinal section through the aXis of the machine gun in unloaded and uncocked position, a flexible cartridge belt being introfifi Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

Serial No. 197,840.

duced into the feed passage, Fig. la showing the muzzle end of the gun.

Fig. 2 is a similar view but in the cocked position, ready to fire. p Fig. 3 is a cross section of the gun, showing only the parts relating to the feed mechanism. I

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showing only the firing-pin support and the elevators engaging the 'cartridge.

Vith reference to the accompanying drawing c is the breech casing, provided withtwo parallel holes passing right through it, of which the upper one receives the barrel l) which is screwed into it at its front portion, and the breech block c at its rear portion. The lower hole receives the ring pin support (l, in front of which is secured the piston p, which receives the thrust of the gases, led olf from the fore' part of the barrel into the cylinder c, which is screwed into the breech casing at the front of the lower hole.

Between these two holes is provided in the breech casing a a transverse slot a2, in which may slide the upper projecting part of the firing-pin support (Z and comprising at its fore part a passage for the feed of the flexible metallic or other belt carrying the cartridges. This slot a2 is provided, at the inlet side of the belt, with a funnel plate t (Fig. 8), which is preferably removably secured to the breech casing a and suitable for guiding and bringing into the proper position the cartridges contained by the belt. On this plate t is a pivoted pawl t1 projecting into the slot a2 under the action of a small helical spring t2, the said pawl acting as a stop for the cartridges fed in the slot a2.

The firing pin support Z is provided at the top with a projecting block to which is secured the firing pin f. This block fits into a slot in the breech block, c, which enables the firing-pin to project slightly in front of the breech c to produce percussion (Fig. 1). The lost motion engagement between the firing pin support d and the breech block c serves to actuate the breech block in the manner hereinafter described.

The following is a description of the operation of the gun which is assumed to be in the position shown in Fig. l. The operator grasps the handle g (Fig. 3) integral with a bar g1, which passes through a corresponding groove a3 made parallel to the hole of the firing-pin support, in the casing a (this groove 0,3 is shown dotted in Figs. 1 and 2) The nose g2 of the bar g1 engages with a groove (Z3, of corresponding` form, cut in the firing-pin support (Z. By pulling back the handle g, the operator therefore producesl a recoil of the firing-pin support d, which also drives back the breech block c (Fig. 2).

During the said backward movement, three other movements also take place:

1. The large helical spring k arranged in a hole at the rear end of the firing-pin support (Z. outside the injurious action of the heat of the barrel, is gradually compressed between the end of the said hole and the front of the handle z' of the gun, against which it rests at the rear. The spring, when at the end of the rearward movement, is adapted to project forward the firing-pin support (Z and the parts connected to the same;

2. In its movement backward, the firingpin support d also draws a cartridge out of the belt into position for entering the chamber of the barrel b, owing to the following arrangement: In a longitudinal downward slot d* provided in the front portion of the firing-pin support (l, are arranged three parts side by side, called the elevators, pivoted on the same spindle jl, carried by the support (Z (Fig. s). The central part j, between the two lateral elevators 7c, is called small elevator, its length is less than that of the other elevators 7c and it is forked at its upper end. The two parts 7c are bent at their ends into an are 0f circle of the radius of the cartridge. T his section of the elevators gives a cert-ain elasticity which enables the said two arcs to move apart on contact with a cartridge, and then to resume their Original position.

The cartridge belt, whether it be of the flexible type of canvas or of the rigid type of metal, is caused to bring one of its cai'- tridges into the axis of the gun` in contact with the pawl l (Fig. This cartridge is then gripped between the two arc-shaped arms of the elevators 7c. When the firingpin support (Z is moved back, the elevatorl arms 7c, which are secured to it, drive therefore the cartridge out of the belt into which it was inserted, and owing to the pressure exercised by the said elevators on the cartridge, the latter is forced to follow the elevators in all their subsequent'movements.

Then the firing-pin support arrives at the end of its rearward stroke, the bases of the elevators y' and 7c come into contact with a cam or inclined plane al, secured transverselj7 and flush with the hole for the firing-pin support d, in the breech casing a.

The said part al is of such a length that the elevators always remain in contact with it at the end of their sliding movement toward the rear; the shape and the angle of the said inclined plane al is combined with the bottom curve of each of the elevators, so that on the recoil of the firing-pin support continuing, the contact with the inclined plane produces a gradual rising of the elevators. The curves of the latter are calculated so that the small elevator j described within the same time a larger arc of circle than the large elevators 7c. The object of this is that the small elevator acts on the front of the cartridge with the speed rcquired in order that the said cartridge should always remain parallel to the axis of the gun during its elevation.

It will be seen therefore that the cartridge, gripped at the back by the elevators 7.: and supported in front by the forked end of the elevator j, is brought in front of the chamber of the barrel as shown in Fig. 2. At the same moment that the cartridge is brought into this position, a trigger Z secured to the rear handle i of the gun, engages with a corresponding notch cut in the breech block c and, stopping the return forward movement of the latter, locks therefore at the saine time the firing-pin support d and its compressed spring lr.

3. A third movement takes place during the rearward stroke of the firing-pin support. A nipple (Z1, secured to the support el engages within a transverse helical slot r1 provided in the under part of the feed plate r which extends upward into a collar f/ (Fig. 33, which partly surrounds the barrel or more exactly the front upper part of the breech casing a, in which it is seated and on which it may turn in an annular groove (Figs. 1, 2 and 3). This feed plate r occupies (Fig. 3) the lower part of the slot l? provided in the breech casing a for the passage of the cartridge belt. On this plate is pivoted a pawl r2, actuated upward by a small helical spring r3. lVlien the liring-pin support l occupies the position shown in Fig. 1. the pawl r2 of the feeder r is in contact with the first cartridge in the belt (Fig. 3). During the sliding backward movement of the support (l, its nipple (Z1 slides in the helical slot r1 and causes a rocking or oscillating movement of the plate 'r and collar g about the breech casing u, and barrel Z). The pawl r2 then pushes the said cartridge (Fig, toward the axis of the gun and thus, when the firing pin support reaches the end of the backward stroke, brings the cartridge in to the position shown in Fig. 3. The .small pawl t1 had previously, during this 1nove ment. been pushed upward, and its small spring lf2 compressed; it then drops behind the next cartridge and holds it firmly until in its turn it is moved to the position of the first cartridge shown in Fig.

At this moment the gun is in the position shown n Fig. 2. When the operator presses with his thumb on the back of the trigger Z, the released breech allows the iiringpin support cZ, impelled by the spring Zt, to move forward. The elevators which are still held raised by the inclined plane al carry the cartridge forward so that the bullet of the cartridge engages with the chamber of the barrel Z). The movement forward continuing, the elevators successively strike a metal part arranged at the level of the rear end of the feed plate r. The elevators are thus successively lowered and resume the position shown in Fig. 1, the large elevators gripping the next cartridge of the belt. During this time, the cartridge, the bullet of which is engaging with the barrel, is continuously pushed into the chamber by the breech block 0.

It will be seen that the firing pin support Z is prevented during the forward stroke, from moving forward by the action of its heel (Z2, provided with an inclined plane, which strikes a corresponding inclined plane provided on the under heel c1 at the rear of the breech block c. In reality, however, the firing-pin support is not stopped, as the breech c, the upper front portion of which is cut out in c4 so as to be made eccentric relatively to its cylindrical hole in the breech casing c, pivots slightly upward about its front face. The heel c1 is therefore raised, allows the heel (Z2 of the firingpin support to pass and enables the latter to bring the ring-pin point into contact with the cap of the cartridge. 'The object of this raising of the breech block is to allow its upper non-eccentric rear heel c2 to engage with the stop n arranged transversely across the upper part of the breech casing for the purpose of forming a stop for taking up the pressure of explosion.

When percussion takes place, the bul'let is expelled, and a portion of the gases is allowed to escape near the end of the barrel Z), by the connection 0,' this is formed, as

shown in Fig. 1a by a part bored at right angles and slotted at the top, compressed by a cross bolt 01, the cylinder e being connected to the said part by a nut or union el similar to that used in the piping of steam or gas engines.

These gases act on the front face of the piston p and push it b-ack in the cylinder e; as it is connected to the firing-pin support CZ the thrust of the gases produces complete repetition of the movements just described as being produced by the hand of the operator. An automatic working is thus obtained, as long as the operator presses the trigger Z and as long as there are cartridges in the belt. The cocking bar g, g1, g2 which has been driven forward during the forward stroke of the support d by reason of the push of the rear face of the groove Z3 on its nose g2 (Fig. l), remains stationary during the automatic working of the gun.

It must be pointed out that, in moving back under the pressure of the gases, the firing-pin support Z strikes the breech c which is always engaged by the stop n. But the inclined plane (Z5, provided at the upper rear cnd of the .firing-pin support, comes into contact with a corresponding inclined plane c" provided in the breech block c, which at once produces a lowering of the breech block, by pivoting of this block c about its front face, so as to bring its axis along the axis of the barrel. There is therefore no obstacle to the firingpin support, operated by the gases, effecting its rearward movement and compressing the spring it, and bringing the breech block c into the position shown in Fig. 2.

An extractor of the standard type (not shown), mounted at the side of the breechblock c, extracts the empty case during the rearward movement of the breech, and ejects it from the gun through an opening provided for the purpose on the right or left hand side.

The rear handle z' is attached to thebreech casing by two outer circular hooks, an upper and a lower. This handle i is held in position by the guide rod h1 which engages, under the pressure of the spring 7L, with a corresponding inner recess of the handle c'. It is therefore necessary to push back the guide rod h1 in order to take off the handle. either by means of the button shown in Figs. 1 and 2 or by means of the point of a bullet, etc.

It is obvious that any other suitable feeding means, operated by the firing-pin support during the sliding movements thereof, may be used with the described machine gun.

The cooling of the barrel is effected by the following device similar to "that, of Hotchkiss machine guns.

Ribs s s of aluminium or other metal` surround the barrel on the whole, or part, of its length. These ribs are cast in groups of 2, 3, 4 or 5, the length of a group being so calculated that it insures practically an absolutely exact inner boring, so that the heat can be very easily radiated. These groups are arranged side by side along the barrel. The ribs may also be connected to each other at the top, so that a liquid flowing along the barrel, can remain for a few seconds in the cells thus formed, in order to accelerate cooling.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:

1. A machine gun comprising at the fore part of the barrel, a piston, a connection for leading off the gases from said barrel to said piston, a firing pin support integral with the piston and having at its rear part two pairs of inclined planes, a sliding and oscillating breech block for opening and closing the barrel of the gun and engaged by said inclined planes of the firing support, said support carrying means for producing the feed of thc cartridges, and pivoted oscillating elevators, two of them being formed as spring arms which laterally grip the cartridge at its rear end while a central elevator supports and raises the front of the cartridge with its forked front end, together with means for raising said elevators during the sliding movement of the firing pin support, for the purpose described.

2. A machine gun comprising at the fore part of the barrel a connection for leading off the gases from said barrel onto a piston, integral with the firing-pin support which is adapted to operate, at its rear part, by means of two pairs of inclined planes, a sliding and oscillating breech block for opening and closing the barrel of the gun, said support carrying means for producing the feed of the cartridges, and pivoted oscillating elevators, two of thein being formed as spring arms which laterally grip the cartridge at its rear end while a central elevator supports and raises the front of the cartridge with its forked front end, said elevators being controlled by means of an inclined plane, secured to the breech casing and acting on a corresponding cam surface of the elevators during thc sliding movement of the firing-pin support, for the purpose described.

A machine gun comprising at the fore part of the barrel a connection for leading ofi' the gases from said barrel on to a piston, integral with the firing-pin support which is adapted to operate, at its rear parts, by means of two pairs of inclined planes, by reason of its forward and backward strokes, a sliding and oscillating breech block for opening and closing the barrel of the gun, said support carrying a projecting nipple, engaging with a helical slot provided in a feed plate adapted to oscillare by means of a collar about the barrel of the gun, said plate carrying a pivoted pawl engaging successively with each cartridge for pushing it transversely onto the longitudinal axis of the gun, in combination with pivoted elevators, mounted in a vertical longitudinal slot of the firing-pin support, two of them being formed as spring arms which laterally grasp the cartridge at its rear end while a central elevator supports and raises the front of the cartridge with its forked front end, said elevators being controlled by means of an inclined plane, secured to the breech casing and acting on a corresponding cani surface of the elevators during the sliding movement of the firing-pin support, for the purpose described.

el. A machine gun comprising at the fore part of the barrel a connection for leading off the gases from said barrel onto a piston, integral with the firing-pin support which is adapted to operate, at its rear part, by means of two pairs of inclined planes, by reason of its forward and backward strokes, a sliding and oscillating breech block for opening and closing the barrel of the gun, said support carrying a projecting nipple, engaging with a helical slot provided in a feed plate adapted to oscillate by means of a collar about the barrel of the gun, said plate carrying a pivoted pawl engaging successively with each cartridge for pushing it transversely onto the longitudinal axis of the gun, in combination with a pawl pivoted on a funnel plate, acting as a guide for the cartridge belt and secured to thc breech casing, said pawl locking by means of a cartridge the belt during the oscillating movement of the feed plate, and with pivoted elevators, mounted in a vertical longitudinal slot of the firing-pin support, two of them being formed as spring arms which laterally grasp the cartridge at its rear end while a central elevator supports and raises the front of the cartridge with its forked front end, said elevators being controlled by means of an inclined plane, secured to the breech casing and acting on a corresponding cam surface of the elevators during the sliding movement of the firingpin support, for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

REGIS DARNE. PIERRE DARNE.

Witnesses:

MARIUs CAssoN, LUomN RUY, EUGENE CHAUNNY.l ARNE ROLLAND. 

